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Delaware Online | The News Journal

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Redden State Forest balances conservation and growth in Sussex County

Foresters at Redden State Forest are working to preserve a piece of the region’s agricultural and forestry heritage in hopes to ensure its woodlands remain healthy for generations. Redden is Delaware’s largest state forest and has been managed for sustainable forestry for decades. The forest provides wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities and renewable timber resources, with active management designed to conserve, protect and enhance the landscape. For Erich Burkentine, southern regional forester with Delaware Department of Agriculture, maintaining that healthy forest sometimes means cutting trees. While harvesting may seem counterintuitive to conservation, he said selective tree removal can help improve forest diversity, encourage new growth and create better conditions for wildlife. As trees grow and their canopies close, less sunlight reaches the forest floor, limiting the growth of smaller plants, shrubs and other tree species. “You’re trying to balance production with diversity plus added benefits of really good wildlife habitat,” Burkentine said. Without intervention, some areas can become dominated by a limited number of species, reducing the variety of vegetation. Selective harvesting allows foresters to remove competing trees, give stronger specimens more room to grow and create opportunities for new vegetation. “I want to select the best examples of the species

Sussex County, DE · 12d